Vayishlach - 5761By Rabbi Yisroel Ciner

This week we read the parsha of Va'yishlach. As Yaakov was on his way,
traveling from Lavan's house back to his parents home, Va'yishlach Yaakov
mal'a'chim {Yaakov sent messengers} to Esav, his brother. [32:4]"

Rashi, based on the Medrash, explains that these messengers were actual
angels. Yaakov sent such messengers in order to frighten Esav a bit and
make him realize just whom he'd have to contend with if he'd decide to
fight with Yaakov.

The passuk {verse} teaches that these angels were sent "to Esav, his
brother, to the Land of Sa'ir, the Field of Edom."

The Ohr HaChaim explains that these three descriptive terms represent the
three different relationships we, Israel, will have with Esav until the
time of the Moshiach {Messiah}. Until the destruction of the Temple the
relationship was one of "his brother"good, brotherly dealings existed
between Yaakov (Israel) and Esav (the nations). From the time of the
destruction until the time of the Moshiach, it has been "the Land of
Sa'ir." Esav's land and Esav's control. Ultimately, with the coming of the
Moshiach, that "Land of Sa'ir' will be no more significant than "the Field
of Edom;" ready to be plowed and replanted in a way that will be in
accordance with those Messianic times.

The stories of the Patriarchs serve as guiding lights for their
descendants. Let's look at the message that Yaakov sent and see how it can
apply to us.

"This is what your servant, Yaakov has said: 'Imm Lavan garti {With Lavan
I have sojourned} and stayed until now. [32:5]"

Rashi offers two explanations. GartiI have sojourned. I haven't become a
prince or an important person--I've remained a traveling man. You, Esav,
have no reason to hate me over the blessings that you felt I took from you.
Your concern was that I stole olam ha'zeh {this present, physical world}.
The fact that the blessings haven't been fulfilled shows that they actually
applied to Olam Habah {the World to Come}. I haven't taken anything of
interest to you.

Rashi's second explanation is that the word 'garti' has the same numerical
value as taryag, the acronym of the 613 commandments. With Lavan I have
lived and the 613 commandments I have upheld. Although I've spent the last
twenty years in the company of an evil person like Lavan, my faith and
dedication to fulfilling the will of Hashem hasn't even wavered.

Yaakov wasn't fooled by the temptation that perhaps, watering-down his
dedication would serve to draw Esav closer to him. On the contrary, he
understood that his strength was in his standing firm.

This concept was shown to me a few weeks ago in a very beautiful way at a
wedding that I had attended. The crowd at the wedding was going to be an
eclectic group including Jews ranging from ultra-observant all the way to
completely uninitiated and many non-Jews. The groom and bride were intent
on having a fully observant wedding, including a mechitzah {divider, in
this case, elegant plants} to separate the men's and women's dancing.

Appreciating the challenge they faced with this diverse group, the groom
and bride, weeks before the wedding, sent out a beautiful letter explaining
the different aspects of the ceremony and subsequent reception. They
explained what would be happening and the meaning behind each custom. As
such, people came with open minds prepared to experience something new.

The afternoon of the wedding, as the groom and I were walking through the
different areas that would be used for the wedding, I was introduced to
Charleston. Charleston, an African American (non Jewish) who stood about
six feet, nine inches tall, was an unusually sweet person. His
responsibilities were going to include guiding the guests from one area to
another as the wedding would progress through the different stages and
ensuring that the wishes of the groom and bride would be adhered to. As
such, I spent quite a bit of time with him before the wedding, explaining
what would be happening at different points.

In the end, the camaraderie, warmth and harmony at that wedding were
something that was very unique. The groom's father told me how a non-Jew
had approached him after the wedding, telling him that this was going to be
the talk of the town for weeks. "No one at work will believe that I didn't
dance with my wife--didn't dance with anybody's wife for that matter! just
danced with the guys and had the time of my life!"

An older couple, I don't know if they were Jewish or not, approached my
wife and I, telling us how this was the most incredible thing that they had
ever experienced.

For me personally, the clincher was when Charleston approached me after the
wedding. "Rabbi, tonight was an incredible education," he told me with his
voice cracking and tears in his eyes. "Thank you for sharing this with me,"
he said as he bent down (way down) and gave me a big hug.

It was truly incredible. What touched the heart of everyone there was
seeing a Jewish wedding in its full unadulterated, not from concentrate,
beauty and dignity.

"With Lavan I have lived and the 613 commandments I have upheld." When it
comes to Hashem's commandments, it's not for us to tinker around.

The Chofetz Chaim used to tell a story of a king whose officer told him
that he was going to attend a gathering. The king asked him to promise that
he wouldn't make any bets, which he agreed to.

The next day, the king asked him how he had enjoyed the gathering. He
responded that it was wonderful.

"Did you make any bets?" the king asked.

"Well yes, your majesty, I made one bet but it was a sure win. They bet
50,000 rubles that I had a wart on my back. I simply took off my shirt,
proved that I didn't have a wart and collected 50,000 rubles!"

"You fool!" the king thundered. "I bet 100,000 rubles that my officer
wouldn't take off his shirt in public!"

The Chofetz Chaim would conclude by saying, "Let no person think that he is
smarter than the Torah. You never know what's behind it."